Sunderland, without their first-choice centre-back pairing but with several in-form goalscorers, moved Danny Welbeck to the left wing and partnered Darren Bent with Asamoah Gyan in attack. Welbeck looked very much an England prospect as a striker in their 3-0 win at Chelsea recently, but here the Manchester United loanee stayed wide. He saw quite a lot of the ball in the first half, helped by West Ham's right-sided midfielder, Kieron Dyer, playing infield and their right-back, Tal Ben-Haim, staying forever conscious of potential danger to his left.

But thoughts turned towards Tino Asprilla at Newcastle and, further back, to Rodney Marsh. The determination to accommodate an individual's talent can be detrimental to the shape and effectiveness of the team. When Welbeck received the ball he invariably came inside, where as a right-footer he was more comfortable. Phil Bardsley, Sunderland's left-back, is very strong defensively but is not inclined to raid and deliver like Ashley Cole or Leighton Baines, and has no left foot to speak of. As a consequence, and with their only natural left-footer, Kieran Richardson, playing in the centre of their midfield, Sunderland never got into advanced positions down their left flank.

My belief throughout my career was that the more my team got into that area, the better my chance of winning a game. It depends also on a lot of other factors, such as the accuracy of the delivery, but this area is frequently the best source of goalscoring opportunities. Sunderland rarely ventured near it, and as a consequence could not get good crosses into the box for Bent and Gyan to prey upon.

Avram Grant, the West Ham manager, took off his wide midfielders, and Frédéric Piquionne joined the firing line with the speedy Zavon Hines. His opposite number, Steve Bruce, countered by taking off Bent, moving Welbeck into the centre and introducing Steed Malbranque on the left. But still they had only one left-footed player. This was an increasing handicap.

Strikers must curse the current fashion for the wrong-footed winger and the in-swinging cross. Welbeck missed a good chance, but the supply from the left was still lacking. The difference with that win at Chelsea, when Boudewijn Zenden, the squad's other left-footer, gave effective balance down that wing while Welbeck was paired with Gyan in the centre, was clear. Forwards cannot score unless they get good service, and here was an illustration.

Sunderland had three proven, in-form front men on the field, but Robert Green in the West Ham goal was rarely tested. I know from experience that three into two does not go. Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Freddie Kanouté was my conundrum at Tottenham; Bruce must come to terms with his own at the Stadium of Light.